1
: the inner softer part of a seed, fruit stone, or nut
… as brown in hue as hazelnuts, and sweeter than the kernels.—
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare2
: a whole seed of a cereal
a kernel of corn
3
: a central or essential part : germ
like many stereotypes … this one too contains some kernels of truth—S. M. Lyman
S. M. Lyman4
chiefly dialectal
: a fruit seed
5
mathematics
: a subset of the elements of one set (such as a group) that a function (such as a homomorphism) maps onto an identity element of another set
Examples of kernel in a Sentence
There's not a kernel of truth in what they say.
the kernel of your argument seems to be the inevitability of human migration into space
Recent Examples on the Web
Corning originally was named for the corn kernel-size pellets of salt used to preserve meat in times before refrigeration, but the method today is used to permeate food with flavor.
—Christopher Kimball, The Denver Post, 13 Mar. 2025
Indian atta is stone-ground, meaning the wheat kernels are crushed between millstones into a fine powder.
—Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appétit, 13 Mar. 2025
Its kernels are soaked in fragrant pozole and brewed into a hearty breakfast drink known as atole.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2025
Add dollops of goat cheese, and sprinkle with sunflower kernels.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kernel
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Christopher Kimball, The Denver Post, 13 Mar. 2025
Indian atta is stone-ground, meaning the wheat kernels are crushed between millstones into a fine powder.
—Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appétit, 13 Mar. 2025
Its kernels are soaked in fragrant pozole and brewed into a hearty breakfast drink known as atole.
—Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2025
Add dollops of goat cheese, and sprinkle with sunflower kernels.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for kernel
Cite this Entry
“Kernel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kernel. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
kernel
noun
ker·nel
ˈkərn-ᵊl 
1
a
: the inner softer part of a seed, fruit stone, or nut
b
: a whole grain or seed of a cereal (as wheat or corn)
2
: a central or basic part
a kernel of truth in what they say
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